Why BGAs Must Own Retail

Today’s independent distribution channel faces extinction as a wholesale entity due to it’s inability to recruit agents who may not be loyal.

Today’s independent distribution channel faces a strategic inflection point over the next 5-7 years. For the first time, a dramatic dearth of new agents entering the business is seemingly outside of the control of the industry’s distribution channel, and firmly in the hands of the carriers. The primary reason is, BGAs cannot put resources into recruiting agents in the traditional model because they may or may not be loyal. As a result, the only recruiting that is occurring is happening on the captive side while the independent channel seeks non-traditional ways to grow (wire houses, financial advisors, etc).

With fewer life insurance agents entering the industry and more existing producers slowing down, the market for the attention of ever fewer agents is increasingly competitive. BGAs have had to pay higher commissions while focusing on consolidation and volume.

When our market changes fundamentally, we must change with it. As our ancestors did, we too must adapt or risk extinction. We in the brokerage general agency channel do not have the resources to recruit new independent agents en-masse if the agent may or may not be loyal. There then seems to be two alternatives: we recruit W-2s, or we hope carriers will recruit more. But won’t the latter increase the likelihood that we are decimated as a channel since they, too, will want to ensure loyalty through captivity? If we are to stay relevant, we must take a proactive approach to continuing to own the distribution channel – there is no other option. If we are to have product manufacturers and retail remain independent, then we must become retail, otherwise manufacturers will become retail out of necessity.

Cameron Jacox is the Founder of InforcePRO software, a firm focused on monitoring inforce policy data to engage policyholders and eliminate "gotchas". The firm is based in Austin, Texas. You can reach Cameron at: mailto:cam@inforcepro.com. His website is inforcepro.com

About the Author

Cameron Jacox is the Founder of InforcePRO software, a firm focused on monitoring inforce policy data to engage policyholders and eliminate "gotchas". The firm is based in Austin, Texas. You can reach Cameron at: mailto:cam@inforcepro.com. His website is inforcepro.com